Tie Ci lowered her hand, her heart sinking slightly.

But she still calmly explained: “Sir, I was following your orders to protect the young lady. We just came under attack, but the young lady never appeared. I wanted to see how she was doing.”

“Attack?” County Magistrate Li frowned as he looked around. “What attack?”

“Someone first shot arrows in volleys, then attacked with boulders.”

County Magistrate Li raised his eyebrows, and the guards and bailiffs behind him burst into laughter.

“What? Arrows? Boulders? I feel like I’m hearing about a siege battle!”

“Laying siege to our young lady’s city, haha.”

“Even lies can’t be this outrageous. Arrows? Where are they?”

Tie Ci looked down at the ground—where were the traces of arrows? Only faint water marks remained on the ground.

They were actually ice arrows.

“Then this boulder should provide proof, right?” No one could move away a boulder.

“Isn’t this the decorative rock from outside the young lady’s courtyard?” A servant stepped forward. “What are you doing moving rocks from the family’s garden in the middle of the night?”

“Staging a battlefield, obviously. After all, such a heavy stone—we couldn’t move it. Only someone with Master Mao’s strength could manage it.”

“Don’t tell me he’s going to make up a catapult next? Such bragging—is he trying to fool a three-year-old? Our city doesn’t even have catapults. Though I think the patrol inspector’s camp outside the city seems to have one!”

“I think he’s pretending there was an attack, then using the excuse of comforting and protecting the frightened young lady to break into her chambers! What a scheme!”

Listening to their back-and-forth banter, Tie Ci watched them weave a complete conspiracy theory for her in an instant. She almost wanted to applaud them.

Some of these people she’d seen at the county office—usually lazy and mediocre. Who knew they had such dramatic talent? It was a waste for them to work as bailiffs at the county office. They should be castrated and sent to the palace to entertain the dowager consorts.

Tie Ci noticed that while these people spoke, their eyes kept rolling over her face as if measuring and waiting for something. Even County Magistrate Li’s expression was off, frequently scanning her entire body, with his gaze particularly lingering on her lower regions.

What was this performance about?

Several bailiffs led some matrons around the group and rushed into the inner chambers. Soon a cry of alarm came: “The young lady and her maids have all been drugged unconscious!”

An elderly man was brought in to treat the young lady. Passing through the courtyard, he sniffed and said with a grave expression: “Master, someone used an aphrodisiac!”

With a whoosh, the bailiffs and servants all surged forward, surrounding Tie Ci and her companions in the center.

County Magistrate Li said with a dark face: “What kind of aphrodisiac? What are its effects?”

“It’s harmless to women—at most it makes them drowsy. But for men…” The old man coughed and said, “If inhaled, it’s roughly… stimulating. So, whoever is aroused and unable to control themselves at this moment would be obvious.”

County Magistrate Li stared grimly at Tie Ci: “I trusted you and asked you to protect the young lady. Who knew I was inviting a wolf into the house!”

“How has sir decided it was me?” Tie Ci smiled. “Do you see me as a soft persimmon, easier to squeeze?”

“Look at yourself!”

“What about me?” Tie Ci looked down at herself in bewilderment. “I’m fine. Everything’s proper. Do I look like someone aroused and unable to control myself?”

County Magistrate Li was stunned.

The Tie Ci before him had a calm expression, snow-white skin, clear eyes, and coordinated movements. There was really no way to say this was someone drugged and about to lose control.

“You claim I’m lustful, but I see many people who seem to be going mad.” Tie Ci shook out her robes, catching sight of Feiyu slowly standing up from the corner of her eye. For some reason, her stance was a bit strange.

“You’re quite good at restraining yourself.” County Magistrate Li glanced back behind him. “But do you dare to strip for examination?”

“County Magistrate Li,” Tie Ci said slowly, “who gave you the audacity to insult me like this?”

Her tone wasn’t particularly menacing, but County Magistrate Li felt a chill in his heart. Meeting Tie Ci’s star-cold gaze, he hesitated for a moment. But then he steeled himself—he was just the son of a powerless third-rank official. What was there to fear? Even if his family had some influence in the capital, he wasn’t without backing either!

“Princes break the law just like commoners. You’re now the prime suspect. What, are you trying to use your status to intimidate people?” County Magistrate Li said coldly. “These flower-picking murder cases started happening one after another after you arrived. Tonight you used the pretense of keeping watch to steal from within, drugged my daughter, and intended harm—all witnessed by many. The evidence is conclusive. Clearly those previous cases were also your doing. Besides, your accomplice has already confessed. Why don’t you admit your crimes?”

“Accomplice? Mine?” Tie Ci pointed at her own nose in amazement.

“That red-clothed hawk master from before has already confessed in the jail,” County Magistrate Li said ominously. “These murder cases were all done by you working together. He’s the subordinate, you’re the mastermind!”

Tie Ci paused, not expecting County Magistrate Li could get Dan Ye to frame her.

But then she smiled.

No, County Magistrate Li didn’t have that ability.

That person Dan Ye—his temperament couldn’t be judged by normal logic. To get revenge on her, dragging her down with him was certainly possible.

More and more people kept pouring into the courtyard. The number Li Yao had brought exceeded imagination. Clearly he was determined to capture her and cover this matter up completely.

But what concerned Tie Ci wasn’t this. She was thinking more about the catapult and ice arrows from earlier.

Those things weren’t something these people in front of her could produce.

Her gaze passed over County Magistrate Li’s shoulder. Behind him, shadowy figures made faces impossible to distinguish.

She suddenly shouted: “You treacherous villain, how dare you fabricate charges to frame me!” and lunged forward.

She struck suddenly, her robes stirring up debris from the ground, the wind fierce. No one expected her sudden attack, and most people froze in place.

Behind County Magistrate Li, someone quickly flashed out, entirely wrapped in a cloak. Vaguely visible was a thin face with cold, hard lines. His footwork was very fast, the cloak’s hem lifting in the wind. A cold gleam shot out ghost-like from the cloak’s shadows—a thin line heading straight for Tie Ci’s throat.

But Tie Ci seemed to have anticipated this. Attacking County Magistrate Li was just a feint. Her palm passed over his shoulder, fingers curled into a hook like a phoenix’s beak, suddenly clamping down on that thin sword.

It felt extremely thin to the touch—thinner than ordinary swords, bone-chillingly cold.

That person seemed not to expect her to use such a strange move. At this moment, they were still separated by County Magistrate Li. Even after bare-handed sword catching, what follow-up moves could there be? Then he reacted, laughing coldly as he prepared to thrust the sword forward to pierce Tie Ci full of holes. But with a crack, Tie Ci actually snapped off a section of his blade.

This move was even stranger. The cloaked person was stunned again, but he reacted quickly too. His left hand, which had been hanging down, rose up. His grayish-white fist, larger than normal, smashed toward Tie Ci’s abdomen like a stone pestle, but was deflected by Tie Ci’s knee. Tie Ci’s form flowed like water as she turned, gripping the broken sword tip and yanking it sideways. The sword was now held against County Magistrate Li’s neck.

Each of her moves was extremely unexpected. The crowd hadn’t reacted to this move either, but County Magistrate Li was lucky—just as the sword came across, someone rushing to his side bumped into him, and he happened to dodge. He was immediately pulled away by guards surrounding him protectively. The cloaked person breathed a sigh of relief, snarled, and thrust his sword forward again. People surged toward them from all sides.

But at this moment, Tie Ci let go and stepped back, spreading her hands: “Alright, I’m done fighting.”

County Magistrate Li reacted quickly: “Seize her!”

People came forward to bind Tie Ci. Knowing her martial arts were extraordinary, they wound iron chains as thick as fingers around her three layers deep. Dan Shuang shouted angrily and tried to charge forward. Tie Ci gave her a look, and Dan Shuang stopped. Tie Ci gave another look indicating she should leave, but this time Dan Shuang didn’t listen. She threw away her short sword, and people immediately came to tie her up too.

Tie Ci sighed and didn’t force it. Looking around, she didn’t see Chi Xue and knew this clever one had definitely slipped away early. She smiled slightly.

Suddenly remembering the top courtesan, she discovered this person had also disappeared.

At this time, County Magistrate Li naturally also remembered there were two more people and ordered a search. But after searching everywhere, they couldn’t find them. Seeing dawn approaching and fearing complications from escorting prisoners in broad daylight with many people around, he ordered some to continue searching while personally escorting Tie Ci and Dan Shuang to the county jail.

Just as the vast group was about to leave with Tie Ci, suddenly there was a cry from inside the house. Miss Li rushed out disheveled, grabbing County Magistrate Li’s hand in panic: “Father! What’s happening! What’s wrong with him!”

County Magistrate Li said: “Fu’er, this person is that flower-picking murderer who nearly harmed you. Father finally caught him!”

Li Fu looked at Tie Ci in shock. Tie Ci smiled at her, still graceful and elegant as if her father was just inviting her to visit the county office.

County Magistrate Li: “Take her away!”

“Father!” The dazed Li Fu came to her senses and grabbed her father’s sleeve again. “This… this is impossible… He was here yesterday the whole time, always treating your daughter with proper courtesy… He… he wouldn’t do such things!”

County Magistrate Li’s face darkened.

Tie Ci was somewhat surprised and looked seriously at this young lady for the first time. She had thought this young lady was in cahoots with her father.

A faint apologetic feeling rose in her heart. She put away that smile and said: “Thank you, young lady, for speaking up for me. But forget it. Whether I’m a flower-picking bandit doesn’t matter. What matters is that your father needs me to be that person.”

County Magistrate Li’s expression changed slightly, then he laughed coldly: “Still trying to use honeyed words to deceive my daughter at this point!”

“Li Yao,” Tie Ci said lightly. “Don’t forget my identity. Don’t forget that you too eat the sovereign’s salary. I’ll give you one chance—stop now, and for your daughter’s sake, there’s still time.”

But County Magistrate Li thought she was referring to her identity as a high official’s son from the capital. He laughed coldly: “Even if you’re from the capital and your father’s rank is higher than mine, you’ve committed such heinous crimes. Do you think your father’s position can still be preserved? Can still protect you? When the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are enraged, your father will have to disown you, cast you out, and sever all relations!”

The Great Qian legal code punished crimes involving rape and murder extremely severely. Even royal relatives and high officials, once someone was involved in such crimes, would often drag down the entire clan. There wasn’t even a possibility of running around trying to escape punishment. This was also why County Magistrate Li was quite confident—as long as he established solid evidence and submitted it to the capital, what could the son of an ordinary third-rank official do?

Tie Ci shook her head: “That’s not necessarily the case.”

County Magistrate Li laughed coldly, pushing away his daughter’s hand and saying coldly: “Protect the young lady!” A group of burly matrons came forward and forcibly dragged Miss Li away. Tie Ci watched her being dragged away, still looking at her with frightened, pitying eyes. She was silent for a moment, then smiled apologetically at her.

The favor from that earlier intervention had been repaid.

Amid the clanging escort of a large group out the main gate, County Magistrate Li smiled: “Young master probably rarely has such grand treatment.”

Tie Ci humbly replied: “You’re too kind, you’re too kind. Quite often, quite often.”

After all, she had enjoyed such front-and-back escorts for sixteen years.

After Tie Ci and her servant were taken away, the remaining searchers briefly looked around. Not finding anyone, they assumed the people had escaped and went out to continue searching.

Miss Li was sent back to her room with a group of matrons guarding outside. Miss Li was in low spirits and dismissed even her personal maid. She slowly sat on the bed’s edge. Just as she sat down, suddenly a pair of hands reached out, ice-cold, and rested on her neck.

Her hair stood on end. She wanted to scream but couldn’t make a sound. Then a woman whispered and laughed in her ear: “Miss, your embroidered bed is so comfortable. Hiding here, I almost fell asleep… Be good, and I won’t kill you, alright?”

Miss Li recognized this was actually the voice of Master Mao’s maid. Her eyes brightened, and she hurriedly gestured that she wouldn’t call out.

At this time, Miss Li’s maid came to bring her refreshments. Chi Xue’s hand loosened slightly, but she smilingly placed a dagger against Miss Li’s neck, signaling with her eyes for her to answer properly.

Miss Li called out: “I don’t want to eat. Take it away. I want to sleep for a while. You all go rest.”

The maid responded and withdrew. Chi Xue was somewhat surprised. She leaned over to look at her. Miss Li whispered: “Miss, don’t worry. I won’t betray you. I… I want to help you rescue Master Mao!”

…

Several matrons dozed under the gallery. There was complete silence inside, and gradually they began to nod off.

The maids, not knowing the situation, had mostly returned to the back rooms to rest.

On the right side of the courtyard was a large row of holly bushes. Behind the holly was a large water vat with some water lilies planted on top that hadn’t yet bloomed. Emerald round leaves spread across the water surface.

A melodious bird call passed by. Moments later, two men dropped down from the wall, both with covered faces—one taller, one shorter.

Then the lotus leaves in the water vat slowly rose, and shortly a black head emerged.

Feiyu stood up from the water vat, dripping wet. Her wide, light purple gauze outer robe clung to her body, revealing a more robust physique than ordinary women.

She didn’t immediately climb out of the vat, but leaned to one side sitting on the vat’s edge, her complexion not looking good.

The tall one looked at her sideways sitting posture with legs apart, frowning. The short one said worriedly: “Master, sitting like this isn’t graceful. If it becomes a habit and people notice the flaw…”

Before he finished nagging, Feiyu’s expression changed and she sank back into the water with a splash.

The tall and short ones: “…”

The tall one said impatiently: “Master, surface. We still need to report back to you! And about what the Second Prince promised—how to take it, how to transport it out, we need a plan…”

With a splash, Feiyu surfaced, wiped the water from her face, sneezed, then said even more irritably: “Things being like this, why haven’t they quickly packed up and left?”

“They haven’t. Still need quenching. You know about deep iron—it’s extremely particular. Missing even one step ruins everything, and it can’t be touched before it’s formed. So they can only wait a bit longer.”

“No wonder they’re so eager to arrest that guy—afraid he’d see through it and ruin things…” Feiyu muttered to herself, then her expression changed again, and with a splash, she buried herself again.

The tall and short ones: “…”

What, is diving so fun?

The tall one impatiently tapped the vat: “So what do we do? We can’t take it now. By the time they’re all ready and we go get it, the Second Prince won’t be so accommodating, right?”

With a splash, Feiyu surfaced again, dripping and iron-faced: “No rush. I don’t think they’ll transport this batch so smoothly.”

“Should we first…” Before the short one finished speaking, splash—Feiyu went down again.

The tall one: “…Are you sick?”

Splash—Feiyu came up again, this time through gritted teeth: “Have someone go check on that Mao Shiba in the jail! Keep a close eye on him!”

The short one: “Are you planning to rescue him… ah no, master, what’s wrong with you! Why are you diving again!”

Muffled tapping sounds came from the bottom of the vat—Feiyu was probably using his code to curse.

The tall one: “…He’s sick!”

…

After going back and forth dozens of times, taking a quarter-hour to say one paragraph in pieces, Feiyu could finally climb out of the vat.

The short one still didn’t understand. The tall one, staring at his strange posture of climbing out with legs spread, suddenly said: “Drugged?”

Feiyu: “No!”

The tall one chuckled.

Come on, the tent’s about to burst.

No wonder she kept soaking in cold water.

Feiyu chuckled and said: “Let’s go! Check on that kid in jail. If necessary, add some ingredients to prevent him from ruining my plans!”

…

When Tie Ci was brought to the jail, Dan Ye was carving a piece of wood and playing some tune—weird and terribly unpleasant. Everyone in the jail covered their ears, and the guards frowned. But strangely, those guards who were usually arrogant toward prisoners didn’t dare approach him to scold him. They all kept their distance. Tie Ci saw one of them had a large blood clot on his forehead—clearly had already suffered.

The gyrfalcon Hai Dongqing, who was of the same generation as him, was balancing on his thin little legs, pacing back and forth at the cell door like a human. From time to time, he would look at those guards with fierce golden eyes, making them shudder. Then Hai Dongqing saw Tie Ci enter and immediately his little thin legs shuddered too.

Dan Ye had originally been lying with his hands behind his head, gnawing on a mutton leg. His teeth were truly formidable, and so was his appetite. In three or four bites, that still-steaming mutton leg went into his mouth. Seeing Tie Ci arrive, he rolled over and sat up, making “shoo, shoo” sounds to drive away the gyrfalcon blocking his view while grinning and greeting Tie Ci: “You came.”

Tie Ci smiled and nodded: “I came.”

Dan Ye looked up and down at her iron-chain ensemble, grinned showing white teeth, and asked: “How does it feel to be wrongly accused?”

Tie Ci thought seriously and replied: “Refreshing. But I didn’t wrongly accuse you. I never said you were the murderer—it’s just that someone needs you to be the murderer.”

“Now it’s your turn to be needed as the murderer.” Dan Ye watched her being locked in the opposite cell, casually throwing over the leftover mutton leg bone: “Though you’re no good, I’ve always repaid evil with kindness. I’m treating you to mutton!”

The well-gnawed mutton leg bone hit the ground with a clang. Tie Ci picked it up, looked at it, then threw it back: “No meat left—want me to eat loneliness?”

The mutton leg bone hit the ground with another clang. Dan Ye’s eyebrows twitched, but he didn’t move.

County Magistrate Li stood on the bottom step without approaching. Seeing the two weren’t friendly and their cells were separated, he relaxed slightly.

He quietly went upstairs. The guards followed, asking quietly: “That bird—”

“That bird is fierce and will hurt people if approached. Don’t waste manpower on it,” County Magistrate Li said. “If we’re guarding, just guard. They won’t last past tonight anyway.” He looked up at the ceiling.

The county jail was an underground prison with another level above for storing miscellaneous items.

The heavy iron door above the underground prison was closed and secured with three large locks. The dim light from the few oil lamps in the underground prison cast the guards’ shadows far below their feet.

Dan Shuang was locked two cells away from Tie Ci. There were others in the jail, but they were kept far away.

Tie Ci carefully examined the lock—it was a spring lock. She drew a thin iron piece from her boot sole, fiddled with it for a while, then clapped her hands three times. Click—the lock opened.

This essential skill for home, travel, and imprisonment—lock picking—was taught by Third Senior Sister.

Dan Ye looked at her with burning eyes from across the way, curling his lips in a smile and cursing in Western Rong language: “Southern people are cunning.”

He nudged the mutton bone Tie Ci had thrown back with his toe, and sure enough saw a cold glint flash from within the marrow. Drawing it out, it was a needle. He clumsily pinched that needle, looking at it like some curiosity—the Western Rong were mostly nomadic peoples, and even their young ladies would mount horses to herd sheep and dismount to fight. Embroidery needles were tantamount to useless objects, let alone using them to pick locks.

Dan Ye watched Tie Ci’s hand gestures and tried to listen and fiddle with it too, but couldn’t open it after a long time. He looked at Tie Ci in surprise. Tie Ci grinned at him.

Dan Ye became impatient with his fumbling and couldn’t help asking Tie Ci: “Why won’t it open?”

Tie Ci answered lazily: “Who told you embroidery needles can pick locks? Can embroidery needles work on this kind of spring mechanism?”

“Then why did you give me an embroidery needle!”

“Afraid you’d be lonely—sent it for you to embroider with.”

Dan Ye: “…”

Embroider your mother’s flowers! This damned Crown Princess!

Sooner or later I’ll embroider flowers on your human skin!

Tie Ci felt no guilt whatsoever—she gave Dan Ye the embroidery needle precisely to shut his mouth, to prevent him from seeing her lock-picking and making a big fuss that would attract the guards.

She studied the lock on the bars and frowned.

This was a set lock requiring three keys. It would take a long time to figure out and would draw the guards’ attention.

She suddenly stopped and returned to her original position, putting the chains back on properly.

Someone was coming.

…

Time returned to just after Tie Ci had been arrested and sent to the jail.

Shen Mi, who had just returned from maintaining order at Cangsheng Tower, was about to go to County Magistrate Li’s residence to look for Tie Ci when he was stopped by someone. He recognized the man as a highly regarded aide to County Magistrate Li, so he respectfully bowed and greeted Master Zhang.

Master Zhang, who had never looked at him directly before, was in a very good mood today and invited him to drink tea in the county office’s government hall. After they went in, the doorman closed the door and walked away.

Shen Mi wore an oily, ingratiating smile as he stood up to pour tea for the other man: “What instructions does the master have?”

Master Zhang glanced at him, remembering his employer’s instructions, and smiled: “Shen Mi, today the county magistrate spoke with Old Liu about giving you a letter of recommendation. Soon the coroner position will be yours.”

Shen Mi was delighted and hurried to say: “Thank you for the county magistrate’s grace! This humble one will certainly work diligently to repay it!”

“Expressing loyalty so quickly?” Master Zhang slowly drank his tea, smiling sideways: “There’s even better news. Want to hear it?”

“Naturally I do.” As soon as the other man set down his tea cup, Shen Mi immediately stood up to refill it. “The county magistrate has always treated this humble person with favor. I thank your lordship in advance.”

“The county magistrate also favors you for the patrol inspector position.” Shen Mi looked up incredulously, but saw Master Zhang gazing at his teacup, slowly smiling: “But naturally the current patrol inspector must vacate the position first.”

Shen Mi said: “Master Mao wasn’t going to stay long anyway…”

Master Zhang spoke as if he hadn’t heard him: “…However, this person is now vacating the position and going to jail. He is that flower-picking murderer.”

Shen Mi paused.

“Shen Mi, you’ve been following him since he arrived. He acts mysteriously, appears at midnight, carries white plum blossoms—you must know about this, right?”

The teapot spout tilted slightly, spilling a few drops of scalding water on Shen Mi’s hand. The hot water burned him into a shudder. He raised his head and slowly stared at Master Zhang.

Master Zhang tapped his fingers lightly on the table, smiling: “You understand his lordship’s meaning.” He threw a small package to Shen Mi and stood up: “Go, beat the drum. As long as you’re the first to stand up and produce this evidence to prove Master Mao is the flower-picking murderer, whether coroner or patrol inspector, both positions are yours.”

“Master,” Shen Mi smiled instead. “If the county magistrate commands, how dare I not comply? It’s just that I’m currently Master Mao’s follower. For a servant to betray his master draws universal condemnation. If you can’t give me something here to put my mind at ease, I wouldn’t dare make this decision lightly.”

Master Zhang laughed contemptuously, thought for a moment, then pulled out a token from his chest and threw it over: “The patrol inspector’s token that Mao fellow never took—originally we should give it to you after you finished this business, but since that’s how it is, take it first. Hide it well, you mustn’t show it off beforehand.”

“Naturally. Thank you, master, thank you, county magistrate!” Shen Mi reached out with joy on his face, but his hand still held that large teapot. He suddenly swung it—bang!—the heavy teapot smashed into Master Zhang’s head. The man’s eyes rolled back, and before he could even form a surprised expression, he softly collapsed.

Shen Mi caught him in one motion, placed him in the chair with one hand supporting his head facing the teacup, making him look like he was deep in thought. He fumbled around in the man’s chest and found another token for entering and leaving the county jail, which he pocketed, then wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Then he lifted the curtain and went out, face full of joy. The doorman vaguely knew what was happening inside and looked at him with a mixture of envy and disdain. Shen Mi said: “Master Zhang is inside contemplating an important matter. He won’t come out until he’s finished thinking. He orders that no one disturb him.”

The doorman and guards agreed. Shen Mi then walked into the county office. The prison was in the southwest side of the county office, commonly called South Prison. Turning from the Yi Gate direction past the long corridor led to the prison’s several rooms. The above-ground rooms held ordinary criminals; serious offenders were all underground.

Many guards watched over South Prison. Shen Mi was thinking that although he had the token, his status would still arouse suspicion if he went over rashly. He needed a legitimate reason to enter, like delivering food…

Speak of the devil—two women appeared from the corridor over there, carrying food baskets, obviously coming to deliver meals. Shen Mi was delighted and hurried to meet them. But those two women looked very alert. When they looked up and saw him, one of them stared at him, her hand reaching into the food basket—

…

Tie Ci stopped her movements, listening to the sounds above. Moments later, someone came down—a tall, thin figure followed by two people dressed as servants. The guards’ voices came from above: “Finish delivering the food and come out quickly!”

Several guards watching below walked over to inspect the food. Those two servant women stepped forward. Tie Ci’s eyes flashed.

One of the women said: “There are still a few salted eggs here for the officers to enjoy.”

The guard grumbled: “This prisoner eats well today!” and reached out to take the salted eggs.

Suddenly cold light flashed from the woman’s sleeve, piercing the guard’s throat. Blood spurted out.

The guard couldn’t even scream before crashing to the ground. The man standing to the side simultaneously revealed what he’d been hiding behind his back—actually a brick—and smashed it into another guard’s head with a bang.

The woman who killed the guard stepped back, quickly covering the other woman’s mouth with her hand, blocking a scream in her throat.

Then she flicked her sleeve, another point of cold light taking the life of another guard who stood slightly back and was supporting the fallen guard’s corpse.

In the blink of an eye, three people were eliminated. The two killers searched the guards’ corpses for keys while the other person crouched to the side covering her eyes, not daring to look, trembling all over.

Soon they found the keys. The two people pulled the trembling woman along as they rushed down. The leader called quietly: “Young master!”

Tie Ci sighed: “Chi Xue.”

In the lamplight appeared Chi Xue and Shen Mi’s faces. The other person kept her head down—still couldn’t see who it was.

Tie Ci had thought Chi Xue would find a way to rescue her, but hadn’t expected it to be so fast, and certainly hadn’t expected Shen Mi to come too.

If she hadn’t guessed wrong, with her imprisonment, Shen Mi, as the county office person who had the most contact with her recently, County Magistrate Li would definitely bribe him to identify her. For someone in Shen Mi’s circumstances, whatever County Magistrate Li offered would be like sweet rain after a long drought.

County Magistrate Li was the immediate superior, the local strongman, while she was just a passing traveler who would leave sooner or later. Besides money, she couldn’t give him anything. For the shrewd, calculating Shen Mi, the choice was hardly worth considering.

Yet he had come.

Tie Ci, who had prepared for betrayal, looked at Shen Mi coolly.

While unlocking, Shen Mi told her what had happened. He encountered Chi Xue in the corridor infiltrating under the guise of delivering food. Both harbored ulterior motives—Chi Xue almost killed him, but he recognized Chi Xue first and explained his intentions. They then joined forces and entered the prison together.

He spoke casually, but Tie Ci saw his hands were constantly shaking, and he was breathing heavily. Obviously, killing for the first time wasn’t easy for him either.

Chi Xue said: “We must also thank Miss Li for her righteousness. She’s familiar with this office’s layout and internal affairs, otherwise I couldn’t have infiltrated so quickly.”

Only then did Tie Ci realize the trembling person was Miss Li. She was quite surprised, then smiled bitterly.

Beauty’s kindness is the hardest to bear.

Soon the door opened. Tie Ci picked up the chains and walked out. Chi Xue went to open Dan Shuang’s cell door.

Dan Ye knocked on his cell door from the other side, saying nothing. Tie Ci pretended not to hear. Everyone was about to gather and leave when suddenly Hai Dongqing walked over, spread its wings, and blocked the path.

Tie Ci looked at Hai Dongqing. Its golden eyes flashed, its bird legs twitched nervously, but it didn’t yield.

It wouldn’t yield, so Tie Ci yielded. When Tie Ci went left, Hai Dongqing moved left too. When Tie Ci went right, Hai Dongqing moved right too. When Tie Ci raised her hand threateningly, Hai Dongqing jumped back three steps but kept its wings spread.

It was much larger than ordinary gyrfalcons. With wings spread, it blocked the narrow path in the middle of the prison, with the grand spirit of: “This mountain was opened by me, this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass through here, leave behind toll money.”

Tie Ci smiled at it: “Hai Dongqing, quite loyal. In honor of your loyalty, when I roast you, I’ll definitely add extra cumin as respect.”

The gyrfalcon’s wings trembled.

Though it didn’t understand what cumin was, it understood Tie Ci’s predatory gaze.

Dan Ye shouted: “Hai Dongqing, come back!”

After shouting three times, Hai Dongqing reluctantly folded its wings, gave up the idea of forcing Tie Ci to rescue its brother, and returned to Dan Ye’s cell door.

Tie Ci had no intention of releasing Dan Ye now. Let him out to cause trouble? Better to stay in the cell. With the people here, killing him was impossible anyway.

But this delay with the gyrfalcon caused movement above. The main gate that Shen Mi’s group had left ajar suddenly slammed shut with a bang.

At the same time, with two swooshing sounds, the few remaining lamps inside were also extinguished.

The last bit of light vanished, leaving the dungeon in complete darkness, followed by a thunderous rumble from above.

Tie Ci’s heart jumped with a bad premonition. Since they were deep in the prison rescuing Dan Shuang, they were still some distance from the stairs leading up. It was too late to rush up now.

Another thunderous boom.

Tie Ci suddenly kicked Shen Mi into a corner, then scooped up Miss Li and rushed into the nearest open cell, shouting: “Everyone, find corners, press against the wall corners as tightly as possible! Better if you can find corners with overhead beams!”

She rushed into the cell, pressed Miss Li into a corner, and was about to find another corner when it was too late.

A thunderous crash from overhead, several times louder than before, shook everyone’s entire body, hearts jumping to their throats. The ceiling seemed to collapse entirely, crashing into their buzzing heads, or as if thunder had suddenly struck overhead. Their minds filled with clamor, and their mouths tasted metallic sweetness.

The entire upper level had collapsed.

In that instant, Tie Ci couldn’t do anything except turn around, face Miss Li with her back to the outside, press tightly against her, and desperately squeeze her body into the wall.

During collapses, when there are no beds, tables, cabinets or other furniture to utilize diagonal angles for shelter, one can only press tightly into wall corners. After all, the four corners are most stable—no matter how severe the earthquake or collapse, it’s hard to collapse the edges.

But two people pressed into a wall corner was too many, even though Tie Ci was desperately squeezing inward.

With a thunderous crash right beside her ear, something carrying dust crashed down, heavily striking her shoulder and back, making her throat sweet and chest painful. She was about to spit blood when she met a pair of extremely frightened eyes in the darkness and forcibly swallowed it back.

That object didn’t remain on her shoulder. With a crack, it was struck and broken by another heavy object. The sharp break slowly slid down Tie Ci’s back like someone slowly drawing a knife down her spine—lingering torture-like agony. Tie Ci clenched her teeth, her whole body tense. Just as the sharp edge was about to slide to her lower back, she suddenly flexed her waist muscles and forcibly knocked the object away.

In the darkness, Miss Li was pressed tightly against her. At first, fear and panic made her feel nothing. Now as the shaking gradually subsided and her senses returned, she became aware of the extremely intimate position. Her whole body stiffened, then she felt Tie Ci’s tense body—that skin wasn’t as hard as imagined but had an incredibly elastic softness, soft as cotton yet containing detectable strength. Having lived sheltered in the inner chambers, always careful in speech and behavior, blushing even from speaking an extra sentence with men, when had she ever had such intimate contact? For a moment her whole body went soft, softly and hazily thinking, “…Despite all this dust and filth, he doesn’t smell like those stinking men, but strangely fragrant…” Suddenly she felt Tie Ci’s waist flex, making her whole body shudder. Startled by this movement into wide-eyed alertness, just about to scold or scream, she suddenly smelled a strange odor, heavy like rust, growing increasingly strong near her nose.

Miss Li somehow didn’t dare cry out anymore. She stared wide-eyed, vaguely seeing in the darkness that cold sweat was pouring down Tie Ci’s forehead. Feeling uneasy, she couldn’t help asking quietly: “You… what’s wrong with you?”

Tie Ci closed her eyes. Half her body had gone numb from the impact, but her back hurt like tearing. This time the injury was serious. If someone came in now…

County Magistrate Li had made quite a bold move.

He actually blew up the entire upper level of the prison, causing the whole upper floor to crash down and create a collapse, intending to crush everyone in the jail to death.

He must have also prepared a series of witnesses, evidence, and testimonies to submit the “Master Mao flower-picking murder case” file to the capital, then close the case perfectly as an accidental incident.

If she were really just the son of a stable master, this matter would definitely end here.

All the things County Magistrate Li had done, the inside story of the three murder cases, the shady dealings in Cangsheng Tower—no one would ever know.

But even if it were her, now that she was seriously injured, even if Dan Ye and Dan Shuang were unharmed, could they really withstand County Magistrate Li’s killers?

He even had catapults!

At this moment, the prison was in chaos, dust like thick fog. She vaguely heard Chi Xue and Dan Shuang calling her name, and later Shen Mi’s voice too.

She felt somewhat relieved. Her people seemed unharmed.

Miss Li tried to move, but she held her down. Debris was still falling from above—getting hit in the head was no joke.

Miss Li felt her hand was ice-cold to the bone and froze for a moment.

Voices could be heard above, quite a few people. Tie Ci smiled bitterly.

Could Dan Shuang and Chi Xue find her and escape before County Magistrate Li’s people found her?

Tie Ci slowly circulated her qi, but when her true qi reached her chest, it stagnated. She was somewhat surprised.

She had learned her true qi cultivation from First Senior Brother. With his deep family traditions, he had told her that once mastered, this true qi flowed freely and would automatically adjust acupoints when injured, generally preventing internal injuries.

But there was no time to think about this now. She whispered: “Miss Li, crawl out by yourself.”

Even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs—County Magistrate Li presumably wouldn’t be too harsh with his daughter.

The sound of footsteps crunching over debris approached.

Miss Li suddenly turned around, back to her, saying: “Take out your knife and hold it to my neck…”

Tie Ci opened her eyes, somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected this young lady to have such wisdom and courage. She wanted to use herself as a hostage to help her escape.

She smiled gently: “Right now, even holding a knife, I couldn’t manage it…”

Miss Li turned back in shock to see Tie Ci’s face deathly pale as she softly collapsed backward.

Just then, with a cheer, several sword-bearing guards rushed over: “Found him!”

County Magistrate Li’s voice came coldly: “Really has nine lives—survived even this! Drag him out!”

Miss Li looked up and only now saw clearly that her surroundings had become a deep pit of ruins, surrounded by broken wood, piles of bricks and tiles, collapsed mud walls, and large stones. Her father stood at the edge of the deep pit, coldly looking down.

Gradually, a layer of terror spread through Miss Li’s eyes. She hadn’t expected her father capable of such horrific acts.

Several guards stepped on broken wood and crushed bricks, rushing over to drag Tie Ci who lay collapsed in the ruins. Dan Shuang’s angry roar came from the distance, but couldn’t reach in time.

Miss Li screamed and threw herself over Tie Ci’s body.

County Magistrate Li’s face was dark as water as he roared: “Drag this rebellious daughter away!”

Miss Li held Tie Ci tightly, but couldn’t match those iron-grip hands. Tears silently soaked from her eyes into her hair, her temples glistening with moisture.

She desperately shouted: “Father, he saved me!”

County Magistrate Li looked at her coldly, nodded once, and Miss Li was dragged away. Even Tie Ci was pulled several steps, leaving a long red trail on the debris beneath her.

County Magistrate Li said: “Long nights bring many dreams. Finish it here.”

The guards picked up stones.

Dan Shuang ran frantically through the rubble and broken beams, her whole body scraped with countless wounds but not daring to stop for a moment.

Chi Xue climbed onto a swaying stone slab, shouting heart-rendingly from afar: “Stop! This is the Crown Prin—”